Improving Dual Language Immersion School Climate: Perspectives of Administrators and Teachers

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:45 pm - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Identities, Communities and Voices in DLBE

Abstract

Thirty one administrators and fifty-six teachers in DLI schools throughout the U.S. completed questionnaires about challenges, causes of tensions, and possible solutions for these in DLI schools. Many areas of general agreement were found, but differences approached statistical significance regarding how difficult it is to navigate the school dynamics in these contexts. They reached significance regarding the challenge of finding qualified DLI teachers (p = .006) and how non-DLI teachers feel about the DLI program, with administrators more positive (p < .001) about how the non-DLI staff members feel. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses revealed that tensions can carry over to students, with overarching solutions offered by both subgroups including more professional development and greater collaboration between DLI and non-school personnel.

Authors

• Nicholas C. Block, Biola University

• Marlen Quintero Pérez, California State University - Northridge